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Re: self-conscious/hold up/hold up on

Originally Posted by vil

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?
Why do they always put braces on teenage girls at the exact moment they are most self-conscious about their appearance?

self-conscious = excessively and uncomfortable cconscious of your appearance or behaviour=uncomfortably conscious of oneself as an object of the observation of others

Edith has a freckled face and sometimes she is very self-conscious about it.= Edith has a freckled face which often makes her feel very self-conscious.

self-conscious = embarrassed; shy = awkward or embarrassed in the presence of others
I got held up. = delayed or obstructed=held up; it is a phrase and anadjective having one meaning

(if a person is “held up,” it means they are delayed by unexpected events or problems)

hold up = obstruct or delay Phrasal verb=to rob or try to rob a place or person by using violence.Two armed men held up a liquor store last night

The teacher held up excellent models of composition for her class to imitate.

hold something up as something (Phrasal verb)= to show; call attention to; exhibit= to use someone or something as a good example or as proof of something:

The wreck held up traffic on the railroad's main line tracks.

hold up = to check; stop; delay

Masked men held up the bank.

He was held up in a dark alley, with no help nearby.

hold up (Phrasal verb)= to rob at gunpoint.

The grieving mother held up for her children's sake.

hold up = to keep one's courage or spirits up; remain calm; keep control of oneself

The police were doubtful at first, but Tony's story held up.

hold up = to prove true

The college held up on plans for the building until more money came in.

The President held up on the news until he was sure of it.

hold up on = to delay action; defer; postpone

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

You deserve a bunch of thanks, Vil! This is really an interesting word. Held-up is an adjective, held up is past form of verb hold with preposition up, hold up a phrasal verb and hold-up is a noun having specific use, related to a kind of business problem:For example: Imagine a scenario where profit can be made if agents X and Y work together, so they form an agreement to do so, after X makes investment in the project. The hold-up problem occurs when X might not be willing to accept that agreement, because Y having bargaining power, decided to demand a larger proportion of the profits. In the process it is X who stands to loose because Y has no financial involvement.